Category Archives: Just Sayin’

Thinking out loud.

10.13.12
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Hey baby! Women speak out against street harassment – CNN.com

I remember living on South Beach, and walking down Ocean Drive, heading in to work.

Apparently a woman can’t make a walk like that – to work, to school, to wherever – without  having to listen to men at their most obnoxious. Cat-calls – they probably call them that because the sound of men whistling or making sexist remarks is just as pleasant as cats howling on the fencepost at night. Or chalk on a blackboard.

I’ve even heard guys argue that such behavior is a ‘compliment’. As if making women feel annoyed, even unsafe, is a compliment.

Apparently I’m not the only one who finds this behavior to be juvenile and annoying.  Some found it downright dangerous.

CNN released a good piece today on catcalling and the associated dangers.

Here’s the link – and a quote:

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(CNN) — Head down, look straight ahead. Earbuds in, volume off. Walk quickly, but with purpose. Don’t make eye contact unless you need to. Look behind you every few blocks, make sure you’re not being followed. Don’t be obvious.

It’s not nighttime. You’re not in a known drug zone, or the sketchy part of town.

This is simply how many women steel themselves when walking down a city street in broad daylight, or even when boarding crowded public transportation. Why? Because many women, regardless of age, weight, or appearance, say they’ve heard something along the lines of “Hey baby, you want some of this?” or “I like what I see” or “nice ass.”

… Keep reading

Hey baby! Women speak out against street harassment – CNN.com

10.11.12
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A Plea Deal Made Him Do It! Justin Beiber Releases Anti-Bullying PSA

I just learned that Justin Bieber has made a new anti-cyberbullying video, which was released Wednesday, October 10.

OK, so he’s doing he is part…

wait…

what was that?

He has a PLEA DEAL that calls for him to make an anti-cyberbullying public service announcement?

While it’s great for the anti-bullying crusaders out there, and for Beliebers everywhere, that he has made a PSA video on this topic,

does it lose it’s effectiveness when you know that he was forced to make it by New York prosecutor as part of a plea deal?

Not in the mood to read the FULL ARTICLE?

HERE IS A BASIC RECAP OF EVENTS:

1. Bieber’s Twitter account stated he was going to be at a mall in 2009.

(Remember New Kids on the Block/Debbie Gibson Mall Tours circa 1982? Yeah, just like that. They still do that kind of thing.)

2. Too many tweens showed up and safety issues arose (a mall “frenzy” lol).

(Tween: “a girl ages about 9-14…too old for toys, but too young for boys” – Thanks Urban Dictionary!)

3. Police asked his staff to pretty please send a tweet out that the event was cancelled.

(Not too hard, right? But WAIT…THERE’S MORE!)

4. They couldn’t do so because JB’s manager had changed the password to prevent anyone from cancelling the event.

FAIL.

Bieber’s Manager Braun and Def Jam Records executive James Roppo were charged with misdemeanors.

(oh yeah, did I mention that shortly after they were arrested 2 tweets were sent out cancelling the event, it took all of 15 MINUTES for the crowd to vanish?)

The charges were later dropped in a plea agreement that permitted Bieber’s record company and a management company to plead guilty to fire code violations, as well as reimburse Nassau County almost $8,000.

WHICH LEADS TO THE MATTER AT HAND:

The agreement called for Bieber to record the anti-cyberbullying public service announcement video.

I understand the need to learn from one’s mistakes and for them to repay the county for costs associated with their communications failure.

That being said, and after being privy to the facts behind the making of this video, does this change the effectiveness of this PSA?

Let me know your thoughts.

Oh yeah, here’s the PSA.

I’m going to go watch something NOT involving a young boy who eerily reminds me of a blonde  VELMA from Scooby Doo in this video…

10.05.12
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And I was just asking myself this question. Lol.

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10.02.12
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Awareness Months – According to Whom, Exactly?

OCTOBER IS:
NATIONAL BULLYING AWARENESS MONTH.
AND Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
AND, in some places, Energy Awareness Month! [TRUTH].
BUT WHO DECIDED THAT OCTOBER BE DEDICATED AS [INSERT CAUSE] AWARENESS MONTH?

I have always wondered who makes the determination that a certain month is dedicated to different topics – breast cancer, AIDS, autism, bullying…

Is there a government agency who confirms these dates and causes? A master list of some kind? Can a person simply add their OWN month of awareness to our proverbial ‘consciousness calendar’?  (i.e. Fur Shedding Awareness Month).
For example, PACER has been credited for the designation of October as National Bullying Awareness Month:
“PACER created the campaign in 2006 with a one-week event which has now evolved into a month-long effort that encourages everyone to take an active role in the bullying prevention movement.”
So sayeth PACER and Wikipedia, so it must be true. Right?

I’d love to have an answer to this question, and Google is just NOT providing me with it, even after extensive research (15 minutes) and interviews with several individuals (my boyfriend, and my roommate).

Please, if you have the answer, do tell.

I’d appreciate it.